Portland through the eyes of a festival-loving, dessert-feasting, travel-addicted Midwesterner.

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Two Down, Many to Come

Monday marked two years as Mrs. Kristi Krass. A lot of people blow off holidays as commercialized, expensive or speed bumps in an already busy life, but I love the opportunity to take a moment to celebrate and reflect on what it means. Jeff and I met almost five years ago on a Continental flight on our way to a World Series game, and I’m so thankful for those five years – especially the last two. Not to get mushy, but I feel really lucky that I have someone who’s open to anything and who I truly enjoy being around. And who pushes me to try new things and keeps me on my toes. From Houston to Brussels, Midland, Chicago, Indy and Portland, we’re making a lot of memories! He’s really my perfect match, and I know we will have a crazy fun life together.

The Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria

This past weekend was our opportunity to celebrate! Long ago we decided that every year, we’d forgo anniversary gifts and take some sort of trip instead. Last year was Nashville, this year was Astoria, Oregon, the first American settlement west of the Rockies. The city, located way up in the Northwest corner of Oregon where the Columbia River empties into the Pacific Ocean, feels like a little fishing town between the hills and the Columbia. It’s also celebrating its 200th anniversary this year – amazing!

We first hit the nearby Sunset Beach, miles of Pacific shoreline where people and cars roam free. We listened to tunes from our Jeep and got a little sun before we headed to town to check out the brewery scene. We paid a visit to Fort George Brewery, which sprawled across a whole city block and pumped out some strong brews. (While I’m really liking stronger Oregon beers, many are still a kick in the gut.) We stayed at the Cannery Pier Hotel, one of the coolest hotels I’ve visited. We could’ve dove from our balcony into the Columbia since the hotel sits on a pier that juts out into the river. Huge tankers and millions of fishing boats floated by, which mesmerized Jeff. 🙂 We took advantage of our ritzy digs: We relaxed with couple’s massages, enjoyed the hotel’s wine and cheese hour, and were chauffeured in a 1945 Cadillac to a great dinner at seafood/Italian restaurant Clemente’s. We returned to fresh cookies at the front desk and stole a few pics in the hotel’s 1938 Packard – also available for shuttling guests around town.

In the morning, we explored the town a bit. We visited the Goonies house…which no longer looks like the Goonies house from the movie. We meandered over to the Sunday Market, which was pretty awesome. They had an amazing “food court,” where Jeff snagged some seafood chowder and I enjoyed a ham, egg and cheese crepe. Yum! The mini donuts were calling but we stayed strong and headed to the nearby docks to scope out the seal/sea lion scene.

It was a seal and sea lion party! I’ve never seen so many in one place! And boy, were they barking up a storm. I don’t know how the boaters could access their boats with all those big guys lounging on the docks. I was tempted to get close to one but I’d probably be coming back to Portland without all of my limbs.

We snaked back to Portland via Seaside, where we’ll be staying when my family comes to town. We scoped out the rental house, grabbed a beer and some salt water taffy, and headed home to relax for the remainder of our anniversary weekend. Perfect little getaway!

The Pacific Ocean from Sunset Beach

Fun-looking contraption on the Sunset Beach

Astoria straight ahead!

Sneaky hotel greeted us with champagne, chocolates and a card

The view outside our hotel windows

Huge boats outside our window!

Jeff enjoying the hotel’s wine and cheese hour on the patio

Heading to dinner in our chauffeured 1945 Cadillac

Anniversary dinner (a two-hour one at that!) at Clemente’s

Jeff jumping in the hotel’s 1938 Packard

Foggy morning on the river

Excited to see it!

Little disappointing. The house from “The Goonies” just doesn’t look the same.